Sports Games

Emphasizing one-on-one competition at its most heightened form, sports games are a offshoot of simulation games. Pretty much every sport in existence has a game to go along with it. The top sports game publisher is Electronic Arts, which is responsible for the NFL-focused Madden franchise, which is annually the top seller. Sports games have widespread appeal, and make for cornerstones in any gaming library. In recent years, the genre has increased in prominence with the spread of online gaming.

Consoles
Madden NFL 07 : Not only do you get a great football game with this package, but also an intriguing text-based sidebar called superstar mode, in which you start off as a college senior at a draft camp then work your way up through the training camp and try to make a name for yourself in the league. Also new for the '07 edition is Run to Daylight, a mode that allows you to control lead blockers and open up holes for running backs.	FIFA World Cup 2006 : The world's most-watched sporting event features 32 of the best national soccer teams from around the globe. Choose your favorite squad and fight through group play. All real-life German venues that host the tournament show up in the game.	Rugby 06 : Rugby fanatics rejoiced in 2005 when their sport was finally given its first game. The second iteration features genuine player rosters on club teams throughout the world. Blur your eyes and the game looks exactly like those broadcasts on BBC.	College Basketball 2K6 : One of the most lifelike basketball sims in existence, the action is a throwback to the older side-scrollers of yesteryear. Complete rosters, coaches and schedules of college teams are included.

Handhelds
Winning Eleven Nine : A stellar soccer game, the smooth PSP graphics hit you in the face like a David Beckham header. The pace is fast and the learning curve is steep. This is really only a game for those with past video soccer experience.	MLB 06: The Show : PSP sports games tend to pale in comparison to their PS2 counterparts, but MLB 06 The Show is the exception. The handheld version is every bit as solid as the console game, complete with crackling graphics and sound.	Mario Power Tennis : Tennis can be considered boring in real life, but never when Mario and his friends are the ones hitting dropshots and lobs. Each player in this cartoonish game is equipped with special moves and otherworldly powers.	Mario Golf Advance Tour : Mario puts a different spin on the standby golf franchise. You play as a generic male or female character and try to build up your skills via a system reminiscent of a role playing game. The goal is to unlock courses and characters and defeat Mario on the range.

Computer
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 : The game nails down every detail of the PGA Tour, down to Tiger's pompous snarl. Tour the world, playing as a seasoned pro or a rookie of your own creation. The best part is you don't need to tip the caddy.	Top Spin : Take on the life of a tour pro in this stalwart tennis adaptation. The game may not let you argue calls with the line judge, but at least you won't get a point deducted for slamming your controller in disgust. Choose from among a roster of well-known pros, and play at a selection of genuine tennis stadiums	NHL 06 : Hockey fans like to get so close to the action they can taste the ice shavings, and this game practically gets them there. All NHL teams, players and stadiums are included, and the play-by-play announcing is some of the best you'll find in a sports title.	Baseball Mogul 2007 : Take control of any Major League Baseball team from 1900 to 2006 while managing all operations and team objectives. Scout and train talent from high schools and colleges. Engage in trades, negotiate contracts and handle expenses with budget management.

Classic
Base Wars : In the future, robots will play all sports. Maybe. Base Wars is a glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world in which battlin' bots armed with lasers and cannons compete on the basepaths. Each tag-out is accompanied by a hellacious throwdown.	Tecmo Bowl : For football fans who grew up in the 1980s, it doesn't get any better than the original Tecmo Bowl, which was available in the arcades as well as the NES. The exaggerated, over-the-top hits and kicking are the stuff nostalgia is made of.	Atari Football : This was actually a pretty terrible game, even for its time, which is what makes it worth a bargain-bin pickup. Sloppy graphics, nonsensical rules and corny sound effects make this one a laugh riot.	Super Soccer : A fairly violent -- though bloodless -- soccer game, Super Soccer for the Super Nintendo captures the hooligan spirit. Play as one of 16 international teams and deliver forearm shivers to the opposition. It's not uncommon to play against a friend and end up with a score of 24-21.

External Links

• GameSpot -- One of the top gaming resources on the net.
• IGN -- Covers video games as well as the rest of the entertainment world.
• Game Informer -- An excellent video game magazine's home page.
• AOL Guide -- AOL's comprehensive sports game guide.